260 Big Game Fishes 



several kinds and a supply of wire are necessary. 

 This gives one something to do on rainy or off 

 days ; but I believe I am offering good advice 

 when I suggest that the angler lay in a supply of 

 ready-made leaders, several dozen at least from 

 the best makers. These will cost from fifty to 

 eighty cents apiece complete. I would suggest 

 that the angler have a box made by some dealer 

 which will hold the reel in the centre and on the 

 sides the lines and mounted hooks. There should 

 be room in this box for a revolver, several pincers, 

 a set of miniature tools, the kind which stow in 

 the handle, a flat file, a patent oiler, a piece of 

 chamois skin for the reel, some sandpaper, a 

 knife of bowie type, a few pipe sinkers, a brass 

 line drier, some fine copper wire, a spool of silk 

 for repairing, sticking plaster, and some simple 

 remedy for abrasions, etc. These can be so stowed 

 that the convenient " grip " holds all the necessary 

 articles except the rod. If the angler is going 

 away from well-known grounds I would suggest 

 a gaff, spear, shark-line, and several hooks. On 

 the reef my boat was equipped with all these ap- 

 pliances and I frequently found them convenient. 

 In making up such a box the novice can obtain 

 the advice of the dealer, who should be familiar 



